An industry poll released on Friday revealed that British businesses reported a second month of growth in March, indicating that the country’s GDP grew in the first quarter of 2023. The S&P Global/CIPS UK Composite Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), which includes both manufacturing and service businesses, reported a “flash” reading …

Banking stocks fell again on Friday after a turbulent week as investors worried that the worst problems in the sector since the 2008 financial crisis had yet to be contained. The index of major European banks fell 2.2 percent in early trading, with Swiss bank UBS down 6.4 percent. Deutsche …

According to S&P Global Research’s most recent manufacturing activity survey, which was released on Friday, the manufacturing sector declined in the Eurozone widened in March. The Eurozone Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) was 47.1 in March compared to the anticipated 49.0 and the previous reading of 48.5. A four-month low …

The dollar settled near its lowest level in seven weeks on Friday, as concern about banks kept investors cautious and dealers assessed the possibility that the Federal Reserve (the US central bank) would stop raising interest rates. The dollar index, which measures the performance of the US currency against six …

The US Department of Labor (DOL) released its weekly figures on Thursday, showing that there were 191,000 new claims for unemployment benefits during the week ending March 18. This print exceeded the market forecast of 201,000 and followed the previous week’s print of 192,000. The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment …

Following its March policy meeting, the Bank of England (BOE) announced that it raised the policy rate by 25 basis points (bps) to 4.25% as expected. Two policymakers, Tenreyro and Dhingra, vote to keep the policy rate on hold at 4%. “If there were to be evidence of more persistent pressures, then …

Gold prices extended gains on Thursday after the Federal Reserve indicated that the end of the monetary tightening cycle may be on the horizon. Gold in the spot market rose 0.4 percent to $1,976.80 an ounce by 0910 GMT, while US gold futures rose 1.5 percent to $1,979.20. The dollar …

European stocks opened lower on Thursday, after a weak trading session on Wall Street the day before, when the Federal Reserve announced a widely expected rate hike of 25 basis points, and hinted it might suspend monetary tightening soon. The pan-European Stoxx 600 index was down 0.4% by 0808 GMT, …

Thursday saw gains in the majority of Chinese technology equities, with Tencent shares rising substantially after the internet giant reported stronger-than-expected annual results. Less aggressive signals from the Federal Reserve also helped to boost mood. Tencent Holdings Ltd. gained more than 6% to HK$368.40 per share and was poised for …

Oil prices fell on Thursday, following three sessions of gains, after Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell renewed his commitment to curbing inflation, including possibly raising interest rates again. And by 0009 GMT, Brent crude futures fell 80 cents, or 1 percent, to $ 75.89 a barrel, and West Texas Intermediate …